explorer day, mixed group of 5-10 yr olds, Wednesday 30th November 2011

A six hour adventure in the countryside for children.  Scroll down for photos.

We had our first adventure pushing through a beech forest. Some of us saw badger fur. We had a fruit snack sitting in the sun. "I like coming out in the countryside," said Finlay. Boys enjoyed throwing sticks for Rosie. We scrambled down through a wood, Adam telling us about danger of dead wood and pointing out young elder trees. Barney found some of nature's treasure- a badger's skull. We stopped to cut hazel for walking sticks. We settled down to peel bark off. A buzzard flew overhead, mewing. Off we went, onto the sunny side of the valley. We dared each other to step in cow pats. On and up we went. Adam saved a sheep which was stuck in barbed wire. At last we arrived at camp, in a woodland. Adam made a cooking fire. Jacques and Ivan made 'Delta Camp' with their own fire. They toasted jellybeans. Caleb and Jacob made a tent and Barney helped and made a campfire next to it. A hammock is set up. We had a feast of sausages, cheese, bread and ketchup. The others made 'Camp Bastion.' It has a rope swing. We did woodwork and decorating. Giles does 5 finger weaving. A pale light filters through the trees onto the leafy forest floor. We packed up, finishing off sausages and marshmallows. We visited the bunkers on the way home. "We claim this bunker ours!" Theo said. " I've found a bone!" John said. We've barricaded ourselves up." Jacques and Ivan. "Retreat!"

Best bits:- James - making the fire; Giles - at the camp; John - camp; Ivan - roasting jelly babies; Giles - at the camp; Caleb - all of it; Theo - everything, I liked all of it; Rachel - the walking; Adam - coming down the steep slope, sliding in the mud; Jacques - probably making a fire and making Delta camp; Barney - the new camp; Finlay - urr...all of it; Oskar - playing armies right now; Rowan - umm...making the fire and having marshmallows and making the sticks; Ben - dunno...fire probably; Jacob - building the tent and having my own fire....with a little help.